Air Peace, a leading Nigerian airline, is set to expand its international flight operations by adding a new route from Abuja to London, according to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program on Thursday, Keyamo announced that he has approved the new route, signaling a significant step for the local aviation sector.

The move was part of a reciprocal action against the previously lopsided Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, aimed at enhancing fairness in international air travel between the two nations.

The entry of Air Peace into this market has been met with positive responses from industry observers and has spurred competition among international carriers.

Previously, international flight tickets on the Lagos-London route reached highs of N3.5 million.

However, with Air Peace setting the return economy class ticket price at N1.2 million, major foreign airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways have been compelled to reduce their prices to remain competitive.

The addition of the Abuja-London route is expected to offer more options for travelers, contribute to reducing airfare costs, and stimulate further growth in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

The UK government has announced a 48% increase in the minimum salary requirement for foreign nationals arriving on a Skilled Worker visa, including Nigerian immigrants.

The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, announced on behalf of the UK government that the minimum salary requirement for immigrants has increased from £26,200 to £38,700.

In line with the information updated on April 4, 2024, UK businesses are now obligated to provide substantially higher salaries to overseas workers entering the country on Skilled Worker visas.

Cleverly said: “It’s time to turn off the taps and end the flow of cheap workers from abroad. 

“Mass migration is unsustainable, and it’s simply not fair. It undercuts the wages of hard-working people who are just trying to make ends meet. 

“We are refocusing our immigration system to prioritise the brightest and best who have the skills our economy needs, while reducing overall numbers.

“I promised the British people an immigration system that serves their interests, and to bring numbers down – these tough measures deliver on that commitment. Employers must also play their part and put British workers first.”

The UK has listed the criteria for the various categories of jobs under the skilled work visa scheme.

For salary requirements, it reads: “You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.

“Your salary is £39,000 per year, but the annual going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £45,000. You do not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.

“Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.”

The statement outlined that different salary rules apply to healthcare or education jobs, which are based on national pay scales. 

However, for those not in these fields, eligibility for the visa may still be possible if the salary is at least £30,960 per year.

Below are some of the jobs and their corresponding codes listed under the skilled work visa:

1111 Chief executives and senior officials

1121 Production managers and directors in manufacturing

1122 Production managers and directors in construction

1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy

1131 Financial managers and directors

1132 Marketing, sales and advertising directors

1133 Public relations and communications directors

1134 Purchasing managers and directors

1135 Charitable organisation managers and directors

1136 Human resource managers and directors

1137 Information technology directors

1139 Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classified

1140 Directors in logistics, warehousing and transport

1150 Managers and directors in retail and wholesale

You can view more job listings and their corresponding codes by clicking on the link.

The Federal Government has commenced the upgrade of 50 selected senior secondary schools across the country.

The Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSCE), Dr. Iyela Ajayi, stated this in Nasarawa State when he paid a courtesy visit to the state’s Commissioner of Education, Dr. John Mamman.

The Executive Secretary in a statement signed by NSSCE’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Fatima Ahmed Bappare, also disclosed that Government College, Nasarawa, was among the selected schools for the upgrade.

He further added that President Bola Tinubu has placed high priority on the development of the education sector as evident in the budget allocation to the sector in the 2024 appropriation Act.

“Upgrade of the 50 selected senior secondary schools across the nation, which was captured in the 2024 budget, is a clear testimony of this administration’s commitment to the development of Senior Secondary Education in the country,” he said.

He further called for cooperation between the Nasarawa State Ministry of Education and the consultant that will be on site for a smooth take off during the upgrade.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, Mal. Mohammed Sani Bala who represented the Commissioner of Education, expressed appreciation for selecting the state amongst the pullout states, and promised to give every necessary support needed for the success of the upgrade.

He also assured NSSEC of composition of Nasarawa State Senior Secondary Education Board by the state House of Assembly.

Also speaking, the Principal of the College, Mal. Gambo Suleiman, expressed confidence that the upgrades would be a success.

He further listed other areas in the college that needed intervention, like the school perimeter fence, E-library and conventional library, multi-purpose hall, students’ hostels, classrooms and staff quarters for teachers.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has appointed the Nigerian Chess Master cum Guinness World Record contester for the longest Chess Marathon in history, Tunde Onakoya, as the Sports Ambassador of the State.

Gov Abiodun made this known on Thursday when Onakoya visited his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The governor likened the travails of the Chess Master to those of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something of their lives, stating that his achievements in the face of difficulties are a testimony that life does not recognize where one comes from, place of birth, or parent’s status in society.

Abiodun also announced the commencement of the State Chess Competition, which will be held in all parts of the state in honour of Onakoya.

He said, “I can see why you continue to be inspiration to many young people across the length and breath of this country. You have gone further by establishing a foundation called the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ because you are determined to tell your story and encourage other children and get them out of the slums and give them hope and future.

“Today, we will be officially appointing you as our State Sports Ambassador. Coincidentally, Ogun State will be hosting the National Sports Festival in the next nine months or thereabouts and we are boasting that we are set to host the best National Sports Festival that has never been held in the history of this country and coincidentally, chess is one of the games that will feature in that event.

“I have decided that because of you and in your honour, we will begin an Ogun State Chess Competition across the length and breath of the state. Since you are now officially our Sports Ambassador and our Chess Ambassador, we will leave it to you to design that competition from the local government all the way to the state level.

“But we as your state, we will have a sponsor in the Tunde Onakoya Prize, for the winner of that competition.” 

The Nigerian naira took a steep dive on Thursday afternoon, hitting N1,450 per dollar in the parallel market, marking an 8.28% decline or a N120 difference from the earlier rate of N1,330 reported yesterday morning.

Data sourced from currency traders confirmed this downward trend, indicating the currency’s ongoing volatility.

According to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, the purchase rate stood at N1,350, with an approximate selling rate of N1,450, providing traders with a N100 profit margin. This fluctuation in the parallel market has raised concerns among economic stakeholders, prompting closer scrutiny of the factors driving this sharp depreciation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been proactive in addressing foreign exchange challenges, notably by increasing dollar supplies through BDCs. This strategic move aims to alleviate pressure on the foreign exchange market and curb imported inflation, which has been a persistent concern for policymakers.

Recent initiatives by the CBN include lowering the foreign exchange rate for dollar distributions to BDCs. On April 23rd, the bank offered $10,000 at N1,021 per dollar, significantly lower than the official rate reported by FMDQ, signalling efforts to enhance liquidity in the unofficial market.

Moreover, the CBN’s intervention in clearing over $136 million in airlines’ outstanding obligations has boosted confidence in the forex market. These measures have contributed to the naira’s gradual recovery, as evidenced by its improvement from N1,617 per dollar in early March to N1,072 per dollar on April 17th.

However, the official market also witnessed a depreciation, with the naira dropping to N1,309.88 against the dollar by the end of Thursday’s trading, a 0.10% decline from the previous rate of N1,308.52 recorded on Wednesday. This mixed performance underscores the complex dynamics influencing Nigeria’s currency market.

Additional insights reveal that the naira experienced similar depreciations against other major currencies. Against the British pound, it weakened by 7.06%, settling at N1,700 compared to the morning rate of N1,580. Similarly, the naira depreciated by 8% against the euro, closing at N1,500 per euro, down from N1,380 earlier in the day.

Forex trading volumes also saw a notable surge, increasing by 15.40% to $245.58 million, surpassing the previous record of $212.8 million reported by NAFEM. However, concerns persist regarding the downward trend in reserves, which saw an 18-day decline followed by a marginal recovery of 0.018% on Tuesday, reaching $32.112 billion from $32.109 billion reported on March 22nd.

A 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria by the U.S. Department of State has said the 2023 elections were marred by violence, vote-buying, voter suppression and intimidation among other challenges.

The report seen by Naija News on Thursday also stated that there were reports of campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy and various irregularities during the country’s 2023 elections.

The report read, “Many independent observers assessed the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters, despite reports of voter suppression and vote buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation.”

The report cited an incident which occurred during the March 18 state election in Lagos, stating, “During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, won in the February 25 national election.

“Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi. In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin.

“According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks. There was no evidence that alleged perpetrators were arrested or prosecuted.”

The report also highlighted the persistent underrepresentation of women and marginalized groups in Nigerian politics.

It stated that religious, cultural, and economic barriers were contributing factors for the underrepresentation.

It added: “The national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria was 6.7 per cent in elected and appointed positions.”

The report further noted that media outlets often stereotyped women politicians and, in some cases, refused to cover their campaigns allegedly on the orders of opposition officials and candidates.

 

 

Millionaire Man Reveals $127/Hour Trick Anyone Can Do

 

Daily Finance | Sponsored

 

 

“Media outlets stereotyped women politicians as “promiscuous” or “cunning” and in some cases refused to cover their campaigns allegedly on the orders of opposition officials and candidates,” it added.

There are indications that the detained Binance Holdings Limited executive, Tigran Gambaryan, is attempting to escape from Kuje Correctional Facility.

Punch revealed how Mr Gambaryan who is currently remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility, applied for a new United States of America passport, under the pretence that his seized passport was missing.

Impeccable anti-graft sources privy to the development but not authorised to speak, confirmed the report on Wednesday.

Following the development, the EFCC has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disregard Gambaryan’s bail application, while noting that the Armenian-American could flee from Nigeria like his Kenyan-British colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla who fled to Kenya.

A source, who is privy to the investigations said, “The second Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who is currently remanded in Kuje prison, has planned to escape from the facility. He applied to the US embassy in Abuja to issue him a new Visa while lying that he lost his passport which was seized by the EFCC.”

Another source, who insisted on anonymity, noted that “Gambaryan could have escaped from Kuje if not for the fact that the US embassy flagged his request for a new passport. Fortunately, the US embassy immediately reached out to the EFFC, and the embassy was informed that he’s a criminal suspect whose case is currently in court for alleged money laundering – concealing the source of the $35,400, 000 generated as revenue by Binance in Nigeria knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.”

Italian Serie A side, Napoli, have reportedly lined up a series of strikers, including two Nigerians, they are considering signing as a replacement for Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen.

Victor Osimhen who has been the talisman of Napoli in the last three seasons is expected to leave the club at the end of this season if any of his suitors pay the club’s asking price.

Recall that Osimhen attracted the attention of top clubs like Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal after scoring 26 goals and providing five assists in 32 league games last season.

The performance of the 25-year-old Nigerian striker helped Napoli to win their first league title in 33 years.

Even though Osimhen extended his contract with Napoli in December 2023, the Nigeria international and the Italian side are determined to part ways this summer.

Hence, a couple of strikers have been linked to the side as Osimhen’s replacement including Super Eagles stars, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi.

Moffi has been one of the most prolific strikers in French Ligue 1 so far this season in which he has scored 11 goals for OGC Nice.

Though the 23-year-old Nigerian striker is currently under contract with Nice until June 30, 2027, PSG could price him away from the side this summer if they decide to.

Another alternative is Boniface, who has been unstoppable at Bayer Leverkusen since he joined the club last summer.

Even though injury kept him out of action for three months, the 23-year-old striker has scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists in 29 games in all competitions so far this season.

 

 

Millionaire Man Reveals $127/Hour Trick Anyone Can Do

 

Daily Finance | Sponsored

 

 

Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna is also said to be a strong candidate to replace Osimhen if the Nigeria international finally leaves Napoli this summer.

PZ Cussons has announced it’s intention to exit Africa’s business environment.

Speaking on Wednesday, April, 24, the company said it has begun a strategic review of its African businesses to exit Africa, partly due to economic challenges in Nigeria.

PZ Cussons explained that its sales in Nigeria plunged by 48% due to the naira devaluation and inflation.

The CEO of the company, Jonathan Myers, stressed the importance of looking towards the future while respecting the company’s past, stating that the review’s outcomes could include changes in ownership.

Myers said, “The macro-economic challenges and complexities associated with operating in Nigeria are significant, and there is much more to do to unlock the full potential of the business.

“As such, we have undertaken a strategic review of our brands and geographies and have embarked on plans to transform our portfolio, refocusing on where the business can be most competitive.”

The company’s CEO said that in addition to the challenges of the exposure in Nigeria, the group is too complex for its size, with financial and human resources spread too thin to generate returns.

Reno Omokri, a former presidential spokesman has given reason why he is exposing the lies of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi on social media.

Omokri, in a tweet on Thursday said Obi failed to condemn his ‘Obidients’ followers when they threatened the life of his one-year-old daughter.

He said if Obi had cautioned his followers, he would not have dealt with him the way he is doing now.

Omokri said Obi kept quiet and even subtly encouraged them in their dastardly act.

Omokri wrote: “If this man had only condemned his Obidients when they threatened my one-year-old daughter’s life, I would not have dealt with him like this.

“But he kept quiet and even subtly encouraged them. You guys rightly condemn the bullying at Lead British School. What about what Obidients did to my one-year-old daughter?

“Today and tomorrow, you will know the wrath of a father. I can forgive everything, but not that!”